I Transmigrated Into the Script and Married the Villain - Chapter 4

The pillar of water crashed down with a thunderous roar.

The commotion was immense. Lights flickered on in every courtyard of the manor as residents rushed out to investigate. Servants had already alerted Manor Lord Cao Chengyong, and within moments, the lake shore was swarming with people.

Chen Che helped Zhang Xingxing sit against a wall, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. He kept a wide berth from Shen Zhijing and Wei Yu, fearing he’d become collateral damage in their clash of titans.

Cao Chengyong arrived with his wife. Despite his esteemed reputation in the martial world, he appeared remarkably youthful—lean, composed, and moving with a light yet grounded grace that spoke of profound martial skill.

All eyes turned to Cao Chengyong. Pan Lake Sword Manor had invited numerous guests for the Dragon Boat Festival, most of them martial artists. Minor skirmishes were hardly surprising, but tonight’s clash had been far too explosive. Everyone wanted to see which rising star in the martial world possessed the power to nearly overturn the lake itself.

Cao Chengyong first bowed to Wei Yu and then to Shen Zhijing, his voice warm and measured. “Since you have both come to Pan Lake Sword Manor, you are my guests. May I ask why you are fighting so fiercely in the middle of the night, nearly overturning the lake? If there has been any lapse in our hospitality, please speak frankly. There’s no need for formality with me.”

Wei Yu sheathed his sword and returned Cao Chengyong’s greeting. “My name is Wei Yu. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Manor Lord Cao has shown us nothing but hospitality. Tonight’s disturbance was caused by my own unruly disciple sneaking over the wall. I rushed here to stop him, but he suddenly attacked me, even stirring up the lake. I’m still unsure of the reason. I implore Manor Lord Cao to investigate thoroughly.”

A night breeze swept through the courtyard. Madam Cao, standing beside Cao Chengyong, coughed softly, her face pale. Cao Chengyong draped an arm around her shoulders, and a maid quickly brought a cloak.

He personally draped the cloak over his wife, meticulously smoothing out the wrinkles before nodding slightly and turning his gaze to Shen Zhijing.

Zhang Xingxing pulled Chen Che’s hand and wrote in his palm, stroke by stroke: Madam Cao’s name is A-Ling.

Confused, Chen Che drew a question mark in Zhang Xingxing’s palm.

Zhang Xingxing wrote again: She was killed off in the second episode, the first victim of the serial killer.

Chen Che: Do you remember who killed her?

Zhang Xingxing: Yes. I played the killer in that scene.

Chen Che’s fingers froze. Shen Zhijing?

Zhang Xingxing: Mm-hmm.

“Then, young friend, why did you attack Hero Wei? If you have any unspeakable troubles, feel free to confide in me privately. Though I am but a humble man, I would gladly offer any assistance within my power.”

Though Shen Zhijing was drunk, his intoxication wasn’t obvious. His expression was merely dazed, the rims of his eyes slightly reddened, and his hair disheveled from the earlier fight.

With his handsome, innocent face, standing beside Wei Yu, it was impossible to tell he had been the one to throw the first punch.

Clutching his fan, Shen Zhijing widened his eyes and scanned the crowd, as if searching for someone. Then he pointed at Zhang Xingxing, who was huddled in a corner, and jerked his chin at Cao Chengyong. “Him.”

Zhang Xingxing: “?”

“The man surnamed Wei hit him, so I hit the man surnamed Wei,” Shen Zhijing stated tersely.

Everyone turned their heads in unison, dozens of gazes converging on Zhang Xingxing like searchlights.

Zhang Xingxing, who had been squatting in the corner picking at moss, blinked in confusion. “Huh?”

Wei Yu froze for a moment, then roared in anger, “Young Master Zhang is my adopted son! If he misbehaves, what’s wrong with me disciplining him? Why should anyone interfere? Brother, what exactly is your motive for meddling in my family affairs?”

Shen Zhijing: “I like him. You’re not allowed to hit him.”

Brother, do you even hear yourself? What kind of overbearing CEO line is that?!

Zhang Xingxing nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. What’s it like to be protected by the big villain? No one was better suited to answer that question than Zhang Xingxing right now! He felt like the pitiful, unloved female lead in an idol drama, suddenly showered with fierce affection by the domineering male lead, marrying into wealth, and ascending to the pinnacle of life!

Wei Yu glared fiercely at Zhang Xingxing from across the room. Zhang Xingxing hurriedly protested, “It’s not my godfather! Things aren’t as they seem! I’ll explain everything when we get back.”

The crowd’s gazes toward Zhang Xingxing grew subtly strange. Cao Chengyong cleared his throat. “Since this is Hero Wei’s personal matter, I won’t interfere further. It’s late, everyone should retire for the night. I’ll host another banquet tomorrow.”

“Thank you for your hospitality tonight, Manor Lord Cao,” Shen Zhijing said, closing his fan and bowing slowly.

Cao Chengyong returned the bow, then whispered to his wife, “A-Ling, let’s go. You’re frail; don’t catch a chill.”

Madam Cao nodded silently. Just then, a small girl came running toward them from the distance, her childish voice carrying far: “Papa! Mama! Where did you go? Xiao Yu was so worried!”

Cao Chengyong scooped up the little girl and gently reassured her, “Your parents just went for a short walk. We’ll go back and keep Xiao Yu company now.”

The couple led the way, carrying their child, creating a warm and peaceful scene. The servants hurried to follow, while the martial arts practitioners gathered around the lake dispersed as Manor Lord Cao departed.

Only Wei Yu, Shen Zhijing, and Zhang Xingxing, who remained crouched in the corner, were left behind.

Wei Yu ignored Zhang Xingxing and Shen Zhijing, turning away without a word. With a few swift leaps, he vanished from sight. Zhang Xingxing felt a throbbing headache and, clutching Chen Che for support, struggled to his feet. Chunxiao, seeing his pale face, couldn’t hold back her tears. “Young Master, I’m so sorry. Please punish me.”

Zhang Xingxing couldn’t bear to see the young girl cry. “It’s alright, I’m fine,” he said helplessly. “You were just worried about me, like Lord Wei. Why would I punish you?”

Shen Zhijing tilted his head back and drained the last drop of wine from his flask. He shook the empty flask and tossed it carelessly to the ground, then stood motionless, staring blankly ahead. After a long hesitation, Zhang Xingxing finally shuffled toward him, supported by Chen Che and Chunxiao.

Zhang Xingxing carefully reached out a paw and tugged at Shen Zhijing’s sleeve. “Young Master Shen, are you still awake?”

“Mm,” Shen Zhijing replied.

“‘Mm’ means you’re awake or not?”

“Awake,” Shen Zhijing continued woodenly.

But he certainly didn’t look awake.

“Should I take you back to your room?” Zhang Xingxing felt it would be cruel to leave a drunk person alone outside, especially since Shen Zhijing had rescued him from the riverbank that day, preventing him from lying there for days, becoming a corpse in the wilderness.

“Headache…” Shen Zhijing murmured weakly, clenching his fist and pressing it against his temple, massaging it as if he hadn’t heard Zhang Xingxing’s question.

“Or do you have any friends here? I can ask someone to fetch them to take you back,” Zhang Xingxing said patiently, picking up the wine flask from the ground.

Chen Che couldn’t bear to watch any longer. “If you two keep fussing like this, none of us will get any sleep tonight. Chunxiao, take Zhang Xingxing back. I’ll escort Young Master Shen to his room.”

Chunxiao quickly agreed. Chen Che turned to Shen Zhijing, pulling him along as he asked, “Young Master Shen, do you remember where you’re staying?”

No sooner had Chen Che touched Shen Zhijing’s sleeve than he was violently shoved away with a palm strike. “Don’t!” Shen Zhijing snapped.

Chen Che stumbled back two steps, his face incredulous. This man looked so slender and handsome; how could he possess such strength? He glanced helplessly at Zhang Xingxing, signaling, I can’t handle this.

Zhang Xingxing sighed and approached again, about to reason with the drunkard, when Shen Zhijing grabbed his shoulder. Before he could react, Shen Zhijing had flipped him around, forcing him to face away. “Young Master Shen?”

Young Master Shen spread his arms wide, wrapped them around Zhang Xingxing’s shoulders from behind, and collapsed against him.

Zhang Xingxing: “……” Is he expecting me to carry this full-grown man back?!

Are you kidding me?! The place Wei Yu hit me still hurts like hell! How am I supposed to carry him?! Just because you’re the villain, you think you can act like a deadbeat?!

Shen Zhijing, his eyes closed, rested against Zhang Xingxing’s back. Slightly shorter than Zhang Xingxing, Shen Zhijing’s chin fit perfectly on his shoulder, especially since Wei Yu’s blows had temporarily straightened Zhang Xingxing’s back.

This is like forcing a duck onto a perch, worse than a forced sale!

“Wipe that overly shocked look off your face and come lend a hand!” Zhang Xingxing snapped at Chen Che, twisting his head to glare at him.

“As fellow transmigrators, I’m truly impressed you’ve forged such a deep revolutionary friendship with the villain in just four days. Teacher Zhang, I must learn from you!” Chen Che sized them up, clicking his tongue in admiration.

“Get lost!”

And so, Zhang Xingxing struggled to carry Shen Zhijing toward the manor, while Chunxiao and Chen Che grunted and strained on either side, supporting him. The trio moved like a human tank through Pan Lake Sword Manor.

None of them knew where Shen Zhijing’s quarters were, so they had no choice but to carry him to Zhang Xingxing’s courtyard to settle him for the night. It had been quite the ordeal.

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